Ella, Piper and Madison Robinson were among the 19 skaters competing in 20 events during the Calgary Regional STARSkate Invitational in Okotoks on Dec. 7 until Dec. 9. Piper
received a bronze while Madison received a silver in the Star 1 category.
Photo submitted

Stay-at-home-mom turns
hobby into unique business
Page 14

By Emily Rogers
Chestermere skaters carved their way through the competition at the
Calgary Regional STARSkate Invitational in Okotoks Dec. 7-9.
“Overall, I think it went great,” said Head Coach of the Chestermere Ice

Edge Skating Club Heather McFarlane.
During the two-day competition 19 skaters, ranging from five years old,
to 15 years old competed in 20 events, and brought home 14 medals.
“Everyone skated well and had a lot of fun,”
Continued on Page 2
McFarlane said.

Local skaters take home 14 medals
Skaters making coaches proud after a successful competition
Continued from front

“It
was
a first competition for a lot of the
skaters, and that was the highlight
of the competition,” McFarlane
added.
Seeing the athletes go out onto
the ice and do what they were
taught to do to the best of their
abilities made McFarlane and
Chestermere Ice Edge Skating
Club coach Sonya MacMillan
extremely proud of the skaters.
All of the skaters went into the
competition with their wits and
skates sharp, after preparing for
four months, by skating four times
a week, McFarlane said.
The athletes are now looking
forward to the next competition in
the new year in Rocky Mountain
House Alta.
“My goal would be for everyone
to have an even better competition
than the last one, and for everyone
to see more improvement,”
McFarlane said.
Competitive skater, Jocelyn
Gaucher is proud of how she
performed during the Calgary

Regional STARSkate Invitational.
Gaucher trained as much as she
possibly could for the competition,
even while she was at home.
“My program went really well,
and I skated as nicely as I could.
Even when I fell, I still did great. I
didn’t let the nerves of performing
stop me or get to me,” Gaucher
said.
Although Gaucher is proud of
how she performed during the
competition, if she could change
one thing it would landing all of
her jumps properly, she said.
Gaucher has only been skating
for two years but has quickly
fallen in love with the sport.
“I love the feeling of moving
around freely and seeing myself
improve.
“When I’m skating, I don’t have
to worry about personal life and
I can move and just let all of my
emotions out,” Gaucher said.
She added, creating lasting
friendships with the coaches and
other skaters is something she
doesn’t want to lose.
Chestermere’s medal winners at

the Calgary Regional STARSkate
Invitational were:
From the Star 1 category, Greta
Williscroft received gold, Ava
Jacobs, and Madison Robinson
received silver, Piper Robinson,
Kaylan Jacobs, Isabelle Cave,
Anna Zuev, and Thomas Mulder,
all received bronze.
From the Star 2 category, Andie
Williscroft, and Mikayla Gohring
both received bronze, while
Tenley Bren, and Leah Cook also
got bronze medals in the Star 3
category.
Neda Ljaljevic received a sliver
in Introductory Interpretive, and
5th place in Star 4, while Jocelyn
Gaucher, Grace Peori earned 7th,
and 8th place respectfully.
Carmela Albornoz, and Michelle
Fawcett received 5th and 7th place
in the Star 5 category and attained
personal bests, while Katlynn
Murray received 6th place in Star
6.
William Cave also received
second place in Special Olympics
Level 2, which was a personal
best.

Neda Ljaljevic placed 5th in the Star 4 category, and also respectfully received a silver
in Introductory Interpretive during the Calgary Regional STARSkate Invitational in
Okotoks on Dec. 7 until Dec. 9.
Photo submitted

The views, opinions and positions expressed by all columnists and
contributors are the author’s alone. They do not inherently or expressly
reflect the views, opinions and/or positions of The Chestermere Anchor
City News or Anchor Media Inc.
CMCA
AUDITED

Thank-you to all of our clients & our
community for your continued business &
support in 2018. We look forward to helping
make your dreams come true in 2019.
May the New Year bring you
abundant joy & happiness.

106, 175 Chestermere Station Way
2018 Holiday Promotions valid from December 1, 2018 to January 31,
2019. Cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. No
substitutions; no rain cheques. While supplies last.

4

December 27, 2018 // theanchor.ca

City and Council Briefs

Council gets Q3 and Q4 Economic Update
By Jeremy Broadfield
Chestermere city council received the economic development report for the third and fourth
quarter at the Dec. 18 council meeting.
One of the highlights from the quarters has been the high levels of interest in the Webster
Industrial Park sale.
“We’ve had a lot of inquiries looking strictly for information,” said Economic Development
Officer Tawndra Calhoun.
The city’s broker for the sale, Colliers International, has recently completed the marketing
brochure for the sale.
Calhoun said that with the brochure completed, interested buyers will be able to get the
information they are looking for without tying up staff and Colliers International time.
Other highlight s from the two quarters included the first ever small business week, hosted
in partnership with the Chestermere Chamber of Commerce.
The successful event led to the highest turnout for the Chamber Awards with 74 tickets
sold for that event.
The city also received $38,925 from the CARES Grant which was budgeted for the BRE
and the City marketing programming for 2018 and winter 2019.

Seniors needs assessment results come in

Proudly serving
the Chestermere
and surrounding
area for over
12 years

Dr. Rieck

Dr. Sanchez

Dr. Deane

More than just Eye Exams!

l Evening and weekend appointments available
l We direct bill Blue Cross, Great West Life, Sun Life, Green Shield and Manulife
l Alberta Health Care covers eye exams for those aged 1-18, and 65 and over, as
well as emergency visits for all ages
l We have specialty equipment on site to serve you better: OCT, visual field
analyzer, digital retinal and anterior segment cameras
l We now offer Vision Training in office - ask us, or see our website for more details
l Single vision glasses packages starting from $149
l Book an appointment with one of our experienced Doctors of Optometry

City council received the Seniors Housing Needs Assessment report at the Dec. 18 council
meeting.
The report confirmed what many in the city already knew, that there is a deficit of seniors
housing in Chestermere.
The report outlines five recommendations for council to address the housing deficit.
It was recommended that the city establish a task group to immediately develop and
implement a seniors’ housing action plan.
The action plan should include specific initiatives for the 2019 to 2028 time frame that will
lead to the development of a mixture of different housing types for seniors.
The report also recommends that the City ensure that the new seniors’ housing is
affordable and accessible.

403.229.2020
110 - 175 Chestermere Station Way
www.chestermereoptometry.com
located in the Safeway Plaza Chestermere

Tracy Buteau leaving the city after 13 years

Chestermere’s Director of Corporate Services Tracy Buteau has announced her resignation
from the city and was honoured for her years of work by council at the Dec. 18 meeting.
In her time with the city, Buteau has filled several roles including Acting CAO and director
of protective services.
‘It’s been a wonderful 13 years,” said Buteau.

Director of Corporate Services Tracy Buteau hugs councillor Mel Foat after he thanked her for her generosity
and help when he and his service dog Walker were elected to council. Buteau is leaving the city after 13 years.
Photo by Jeremy Broadfield

December 27, 2018 // theanchor.ca

5

City looking to require all C o u n c i l l o o k i n g t o h e a r
ride share and taxis to r e s i d e n t ’ s o p i n i o n s o n
cannabis in the city
have a business license growing
Personal Cultivation of Cannabis Bylaw tabled to allow
Proposed licensing requirements intended to improve
accountability of taxi drivers in Chestermere
By Jeremy Broadfield
Chestermere city council was split four
to three in passing the first reading of an
amendment to the city’s business licensing
bylaw that would require all vehicles
providing livery service in Chestermere to
have a business license.
The amendment to the bylaw proposes
that all drivers picking up customers in the
city have a valid class 4 license and that,
“all livery vehicles picking up customers
within Chestermere must obtain a Business
License from the City.”
The cost of the business license would be
$50.
In a recorded vote, Councillors, Cathy
Burness, Laurie Bold, Mel Foat and Mayor
Marshall Chalmers all voted in support of
the amendment.
Councillors, Yvette Wagner, Michelle
Young, and Ritesh Narayan voted against it.
“We did pass first reading,” said Chalmers,
“But clearly we’re looking to engage the
industry whether it’s the local taxi company
or taxi companies and or Uber to get their
additional input before we move on to
second and third reading.”
Some of the concerns debated by council
included how the bylaw could be enforced
on ride sharing services such as Uber.
City Chief Administrative Officer Bernie
Morton told council creating a tiered system
where taxi services and ride sharing services
have different regulations where taxis
require a license while ride shares don’t
would be challenging.

6

Councillor Wagner also raised a concern
about the potential of the amendment to
dissuade livery services from operating
in the city since without any public
transportation there is a need for taxi and
ride sharing services in Chestermere.
In passing first reading, council and staff
can now conduct more public and industry
engagement before the amendment is
returned to council for second and third
reading in 2019.
“We want to understand the industry
and make sure that we move forward
appropriately,” said Chalmers.
“This is about engaging the livery service
industry and… letting them have their say
so we can make the best decision possible,”
he said.

further public consultation
By Jeremy Broadfield
After intense debate, city council decided
to table the Personal Cultivation of
Cannabis Bylaw in order to conduct more
public consultation on the matter.
“We wanted to have the opportunity to
engage the community for further dialogue
regarding this bylaw,” said Chestermere’s
Mayor Marshall Chalmers.
The proposed bylaw, which passed first
reading on Dec. 4, proposes that residents
wishing to grow cannabis in singledetached houses or accessory structures
in Chestermere will be required to have a
license at a cost of $35.
The license would then allow a person to
grow up to the Federally mandated limit of
four cannabis plants.
In debating the proposed bylaw, council
raised concerns ranging from how the
bylaw would be enforced to the fact that
through freedom of information laws,
people would be able to find out whether a
property has had a license approved.
Concerns were also raised about how
permitting growing would affect real estate
values and whether personal cultivation
could lead to use of cannabis by minors.
Councillor Mel Foat took the position
that he would like to see the city take a
stand and disallow personal cultivation of
cannabis.
Council also felt that they had insufficient

December 27, 2018 // theanchor.ca

information from the community in
regards to what the public want to see for
the regulation of personal cultivation of
cannabis in the city.
In preparing the bylaw, the city hosted a
survey online asking for resident’s feedback
on whether a license should be needed.
The results, which had too few respondents
to be considered and accurate gauge of the
community as a whole, showed a majority
of respondents where against regulation of
the growing of cannabis.
The survey results conflict with what
councillors have been hearing from
residents.
“After debate, council obviously felt
that by tabling it we wanted to have the
opportunity to engage the community for
further dialogue regarding this bylaw,” said
Chalmers.
“At some point we have to make a
decision but clearly council at the end of
the day felt that we at least needed to give
it one more kick to try and engage the
community on this topic,” he said.
Chalmers said that council is working hard
to try and get the Personal Cultivation of
Cannabis Bylaw right.
“We’ll try and do the best we can and get
it as close to the mark as we can initially
but like all other communities across the
country, we’re going to have to live it for a
year or two and then adjust as we see where
we need to,” said Chalmers.

Dancers one step closer
to dream
Three dancers given the opportunity to meet and perform with professional performing artists
By Emily Rogers
Three young dancers recently had the
opportunity to experience what living as a
performing artist would be like.
The Chestermere and Strathmore dancers
were flown to Disney World to attend dance
classes, make up artistry classes, photo
shoots, and perform in the Main Street
parade for the “Be Discovered” program.
“It was amazing, we got to dance with
many people who we have never met before
who won the same scholarship,” said Paige
Gilmour, 16, from Chestermere who has
been dancing for 11 years.
Receiving the scholarship came as a
surprise to Gilmour after she performed in
the “Flying High” Ariel Showcase recital at
the Strathmore high school.

“I didn’t know I was going to win
anything. I heard name being called, I
wasn’t sure if it was actually me.
“I was really surprised, it was crazy,”
Gilmour said.
Traveling to Florida to work on dance
and meet professionals in the industry has
helped Gilmour be able to network with
dancers and encouraged her to take the next
step in her dancing career.
“I really want to be in a production. I
want to try to put myself out there, going to
auditions, taking classes, and seeing what
else I can do with it,” Gilmour said.
For Katherine Voelk, 13, from Strathmore,
having the opportunity to be a part of the
program allowed her to become more
noticed as an individual dancer while
performing in a group.

The youngest of the three performers
who has been dancing for five years, Mia
Srubowich, 10, from Chestermere, enjoyed
meeting the other dancers from around the
country.
Srubowich received her scholarship at the
end of a competition and was shocked when
she heard her named called.
“When they got to the scholarship part I
thought I probably wouldn’t win anything
because there was over 100 people.
“I heard my name being called, I was
shivering, I wasn’t expecting to win a
scholarship to go out of Canada, it was
actually really exciting because I didn’t
know I was going to win it,” Srubowich
said.
Now Srubowich is one step closer to her
dream of dancing on Broadway.
“I’ve always wanted to dance model in
magazines or on websites and do some
dancing in movies.
“I’ve always wanted to be an actress, and I
find the best way to express myself in acting
is by dancing,” Srubowich said.
Although the week-long trip was tiring,
and the girls barely had any free-time, the
experience was well worth it to improve
their dancing abilities.
When Owner and Artistic Director of
Expressions Dance Gallery Heather
Lawrence-Thomas found out three of her
dancers had received the scholarship she
had mixed feelings.

“You never know if it’s going to be a
money grab or something on the other end,”
Lawrence-Thomas said.
“In the end I’ve only heard really good
things from the parents that it was really
worth it, because there was so much
involved with the classes, the workshops
and the performances,” she added.
Lawrence-Thomas is proud of the girls,
not only that they won the scholarship,
but because they took the initiative to
participate, and did a great job.
“They could have gone down there and
just bombed, but they didn’t. We got really
good feedback, they were excellent, they
were incredibly well mannered,” LawrenceThomas said.
She added, one of the most important
things in dance is that the performers pick
up new material quickly, especially when
working with a new choreographer.
“They were able to do that, I’m really
proud of them for stepping up,” LawrenceThomas said.
For her having the dancers step up and be
positive role models for the younger dancers
is important.
“Making sure they’re setting good
examples for others because they are full
time dancers. They are very visible, they’re
three very-very good dancers, so it’s
important for me, that they understand that
they have to set a good example for those
coming up,” Lawrence-Thomas said.

Constituency Office
Mon - Thurs. 10:00am - 3:00pm • Fri. 10:00am - 12:00pm
Please call ahead. Other times by appointment.
215, 175 Chestermere Station Way
403.207.9889
chestermere.rockyview@assembly.ab.ca
Please Volunteer and support local business!
Local business and volunteers are
the HEART of Chestermere
Know a special volunteer in the community?
Let us know!
We now offer Commissioner For Oaths services
Please call 403.700.5437 for an appointment
LEELA SHARON AHEER
MLA

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Three dancers from Chestermere and Strathmore were given an opportunity to attend dancing classes, photo
shoots, and perform in the Main Street parade in Disney World after receiving a scholarship from the “Be
Discovered” program. During the week-long trip the dancers were able to meet other dancers from across the
country and meet professional performing artists.
Photo submitted

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Following conversations
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By Emily Rogers
New Chestermere resident, Don Cassidy, is encouraging
locals to become involved in documenting the ecological
state of the area with the first Christmas Bird Count on Dec.
29.
“I wanted to start [a Christmas Bird Count] in Chestermere
and get more people involved,” said Cassidy.
“I wanted to have one locally, and let people know what’s
flying around here,” he said.
Bird watchers can participate in the Christmas Bird Count
in their own back yards, or by driving between 84 St.
southeast, Highway 564, Range Road 263, and Township
Road 231.
“People can devote 15 minutes to it, look periodically at
bird feeders throughout the day, and then take the highest
count they see at one time,” Cassidy said.
He added, “In our backyard during the day, we’ll have a
flock of house sparrows come in, it can vary from 20, to 60
sometimes. We’ll be looking out there, and the whole back
yard is just one solid mass of feathers and movement.”
Cassidy’s ultimate goal for the Christmas Bird Count is to
identify the different species that make their home, or travel
stop during migration in Chestermere.
“The health of the planet is always tied to the number of
species on the planet, birds are a pretty good indicator of
how things are,” Cassidy said.
He added, “The Christmas Bird Count will provide a snap
shot of what’s going on and will make people more aware
of what’s out there.”
Cassidy began bird watching seriously two years ago, after
he retired from teaching.

8

113°48'0"W

113°42'0"W

113°36'0"W

113°30'0"W

“It was a lifelong interest, more generally. The first bird
that caught my eye, I was about 11-years-old, but now was
time to actually pursue it,” Cassidy said.
“I got a camera and started walking through the woods,
I wanted to take a closer look at what’s living out there,”
Cassidy said.
He added, soon after his wife became interested in bird
watching as well.
“She’s my side kick,” Cassidy said.
Although bird watching is a fresh hobby of Cassidy’s, he
has enjoyed outdoor hobbies for the majority of his life.
“Most of my life I’ve been a fisherman, I kind of changed
up hobbies a little bit,” Cassidy said.
“You get much more in tune with what’s going on out
there in the environment, and then it’s all catch and release.
“It’s a hobby that is really low key, it doesn’t really cost a
whole lot to get involved in,” Cassidy said.
He added, “Once you get a picture of a bird that you can
enjoy, you’ve done no harm to the bird or the environment,
it’s a fairly quiet type of pursuit.”
For Cassidy, it’s not only the pursuit of seeing of a bird he
has never seen before that he enjoys, he also enjoys sharing
the experience with like-minded people.
“They are all very observant, very thoughtful, really
gracious, gentle people. It’s amazing,” Cassidy said.
He added, “The part that I like is there is no harm done.
It’s just an appreciation for what’s alive.”
Cassidy is hoping to get more people involved in the
Christmas Bird Count, and to get more people interested in
bird watching in the Chestermere area.
To get involved in the Christmas Bird Count, please
contact Don Cassidy at cassidyd@telus.net.
December 27, 2018 // theanchor.ca

Don Cassidy and his wife Elaine Cassidy spotted a
Northern Flicker taking a quick break on their bird feeder. The Cassidy’s
are encouraging Chestermere and Rocky View County residents to get
involved in the first Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 29, by either keeping
an eye on bird feeders at home or taking a drive around the county.
Photo submitted

Merry Christmas &
Happy Holidays
from the
City of Chestermere
holiday office closures
City Hall will be closed December 24-December 28 and January 1 for the holidays.
Phone numbers to be contacted in case of emergency:
• Public Works Emergencies: (403) 207-7050
• Sewer/Water Emergencies: Call EPCOR 1-888-775-6677
• Bylaw Enforcement Issues: (403) 207-7058
• RCMP & Firefighters: Call 911

If you need to make a payment, there is a 24 hour envelope drop box
located at the south entrance of City Hall. Please do not deposit cash.
The CUI Office will be closed December 24-26.

upcoming events
Dec 24-28

City Hall Closed for the Holidays

Dec 27-29

Western Canada Pond Hockey
Championship
wcpondhockey.ca

January 1

New Year’s Day (City Hall Closed)

January 15 Council Meeting
(3:00 p.m.)

supplemental tax assessments

View more at chestermere.ca/calendar

Supplemental Tax Notices have been mailed to homes where construction was completed in 2018.
The deadline for payment was December 20, 2018 and the complaint deadline is January 17, 2019.
For more information please visit www.chestermere.ca/taxes

seeking committee members
The City is looking for residents interested in sitting on the Council Task Force on Seniors’ Housing. This Task
Force will provide an opportunity for Council, community members and groups to support, advocate for and
initiate a housing development for seniors.
The Lake and Watershed Advisory Committee Terms of Reference has recently been amended to reflect an
accurate and refined mandate, Council’s Strategic Plan and more appropriate membership requirements. The
Committee is mandated to support lake use management initiatives, provide public education on invasive
species and monitor lake quality and viability. The deadline to apply for this committee is January 25.
If you are interested in either of these committees, visit chestermere.ca/committees.

recent news
Dec 4

December Mayor’s Message

Dec 5

Chestermere Peace Officers Arrest
Owner of Vicious Dog

Dec 6

Tax Cut! Chestermere makes
waves with municipal tax
decrease

Dec 17

Preventing holiday cooking fires

Dec 27

Please don’t drink and drive

DEVELOPMENT PERMITS

Read more at chestermere.ca/news

The following Development Permit(s) have been approved in accordance with the City of Chestermere Land Use
Bylaw 022-10, as amended:
1.
2.

Any person deemed to be affected by the above approval(s) may choose to appeal this decision to the Subdivision
and Development Appeal Board. Any appeal must be in writing to the Secretary of the Subdivision and
Development Appeal Board and forwarded to the City of Chestermere along with the required fee of $200.00
within 21 days from the date of this publication. Further information regarding the above mentioned approval(s)
may be obtained by contacting our office at 403-207-7075 during regular business hours.
December 27, 2018 // theanchor.ca

FROM OUR CLUB TO YOURS
Mo Speidal and members, coaches and supporters of the Chestermere Chiefs Minor Football Club attended the Chestermere Lions Club meeting
and received a cheque for $3,500 from Club President, Morris Luchka. “The money will be used to buy uniforms and equipment” said Speidel.
Your (Lions) support of our club is greatly appreciated.
Photo Submitted

A Chestermere Christmas

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all ‘round the lake

Riding on ski-doos and leading the pack,

Heading to city hall, that was their aim,

Not a person was stirring, all taking a break;

Was Mayor Marshall Chalmers with a great big sack,

They sped past the Landing, Chestermere Station, and all.

The stockings were hung at The Landing with care,

Faster than speedboats across the lake they came,

And with a bound, when they reached city hall,

In hopes that the Mayor soon would be there;

Up jumped the Mayor, taking his place at the podium
there,

The residents were nestled all snug in their beds,
With a twinkle in his eyes and a smile on his lips,
While visions of tax rebates danced in
their heads;

He cleared his throat and prepared to speak,
Good news! We’ve done it we found a way

With deadlines long met,
I settled down for a tiny night
cap,

To cut your taxes this winter’s day,
And from his sack he drew with a flourish,

When out on the lake there
arose such a clatter,

A scroll with the tax rate wrapped in a
bow,

I sprang from my chair to
see what was the matter.

Minus 2 per cent and no cuts to services
somehow,

Away to the window I flew
like a flash,

And with a wink and a laugh,
They were off in a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw
up the sash.

And As they drove off, I heard him exclaim,

The moon on the breast of the freshly
cleared rinks,

Merry Christmas to all and a happy New Year!
–by Jeremy Broadfield based on ‘Twas the Night
Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore.

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But CAO Bernie and six city councillors,

10

December 27, 2018 // theanchor.ca

Breathing deeply

Making household air healthier one candle at a time
has found that being able to experiment
creating her own scented candles has been
rewarding.
Lately, McKee has been using mostly
peppermint, cinnamon, orange, clove,
nutmeg, ginger and occasionally lemon to
create her scented winter candles.
“Knowing that I’m improving the air
quality in my home, and not putting
diesel fumes in my home has been a big
highlight,” McKee said.
Doing as much as she can for her health is
extremely important to McKee.
“I’m Just trying to attain my best health,”
she said.
“This time of year, it’s dark by five, and
having a candle lit in the room is just such a
nice atmosphere, it makes that cozy feeling.
So, go ahead breathe deeply, you’re only
going to be healthier for it,” said McKee.
To see a video of McKee demonstrating
her candle making process visit The
Anchor’s website at www.theanchor.ca/
video-gallery/

Karen McKee, founder of Pathway Essentials, is fighting against paraffin wax candles. After researching what is in paraffin wax, and the harmful effects it can cause
on the body, McKee decided to start her own line of essential oil scented beeswax candles which are hand-made right in her kitchen. Photo by Emily Rogers

By Emily Rogers
Karen McKee is fighting the battle against
paraffin wax one candle at a time.
McKee had never given a second thought
to burning fall scented candles in her home
until a dinner guest refused to come inside
while a candle was burning.
“He took two steps in the front door,
stopped dead and said, ‘I have to go, I can’t
come here,’” McKee said.
In order for the dinner guest to not have
an asthma attack, McKee had to air out her
house while her guest waited on the front
porch.
“He told us that he has such sensitive
asthma to paraffin wax candles that he’ll go
into a full-blown asthma attack,” McKee
said.
She added, “That led me to start looking
into paraffin wax, I always thought of
people who have asthma as the canary in the
mine shaft.
“If they can’t breathe the air, the rest of us
probably aren’t doing so well with it either
but we just have a higher tolerance level.”
McKee began researching paraffin wax and
what she found was unsettling.
“I was shocked to find out what’s in
paraffin wax candles. I immediately said,
‘That’s it we’re not burning anymore
paraffin wax candles in this house,’” McKee

said.
Paraffin wax is cheap and dirty, she added,
it’s a by-product of petroleum refining and
when it’s burned it releases toxic fumes into
the air.
A healthier alternative to paraffin wax
candles are soy wax candles, which come
from a vegetable wax made from the oil of
soy beans.
Soy wax burns clean, and doesn’t have the
toxins that paraffin wax has, said McKee.
However, the ultimate type of candle to
burn is beeswax.
Beeswax emits a negative ion that attracts
some of the pollutants in the air, McKee
said, just like plants can clean the air, so
does beeswax.
“Beeswax candles burning in the air will
help with allergies, asthma, and hay fever,”
she said.
After making the decision to ban paraffin
wax candles from her home, McKee began
shopping around for beeswax candles, but
was surprised by how much they cost.
After finding nothing but limitations,
McKee decided to take a candle making
workshop, and quickly became a convert.
“I make my own candles now, I’m really
just getting started,” McKee said.
She first begins the candle making process
by clearing off her kitchen counters, to
ensure the wax doesn’t get on anything.

Once she has cleared the space she will
be working, McKee assembles all of her
supplies, the essential oils she will be using
to scent the candles, a chunk of wax, or wax
pellets, a melting pot, tea light containers,
wicks, and a wooden tray lined with
parchment paper to place the candles in to
set.
“You need a solid surface. If you have to
move them, you’re going to jiggle a little
bit, it’s going to create a crack in the wax,”
McKee said.
Once the wax has been poured into the tea
light container it needs to cool and set for a
minimum of 24 hours before it can be burnt.
“It really doesn’t take that much time,”
McKee said.
“It’s a matter of finding a receptacle,
finding essential oils, making sure you have
the right ratio, and giving yourself time to
do it,” she added said.
Although making her own candles at home
was challenging at first, it has become a fun
and easy activity to fill an afternoon.
Now McKee can make a couple dozen tea
light candles in less than an hour.
“It was challenging getting over the fear
that I’m going to mess it up,” McKee said.
A fear that was compounded by initially
receiving unreliable information about the
process.
While it was difficult at first, McKee

December 27, 2018 // theanchor.ca

Before Karen McKee could melt the beeswax, she
needed to break it into small chunks to fit into the
pot. McKee has only just begun her candle making
journey but is finding it to be an afternoon activity
that will later benefit her, and her health. Photo by
Emily Rogers

The Greeks have a long
and storied history with
wine. While there is
archeological evidence of
other countries cultivating
grapes into various states
of fermentation in the days
before written history, the
oldest surviving written
records of winemaking are
of Greek origin, dating as
far back as the fifth millennium BCE.
A uniquely Greek wine is
called Retsina, and is one
of those love-it-or-hate-it
wines that provokes strong
reactions from the tippling
public.
If we turn back the clock
to around 2000 years ago,
Greece was the preeminent
producer of wine in the
known world, but since
impermeable glass bottles
stopped with cork had not
been invented yet, wine
would spoil quickly due to
oxidation from exposure to
ambient oxygen.
The state of the art in wine
storage at the time were
large clay vessels known
as amphorae. These clay
amphorae were used as storage vessels for pretty much
everything, wheat grains to
wines, togas to tunics, and
anything else you might
imagine. Even to the present day, ancient shipwrecks
have been uncovered in the
Mediterranean Sea with

intact amphorae in the cargo
hold.
Unfortunately, the clay
vessels were not airtight or
watertight, so merchants
would smear pine resin
on the interior to prevent
liquids from getting out,
or air from getting in. You
might think of this strategy
as the ancient precursor of
the Ziploc baggie.
Insightful readers may
already be wincing at the
thought of drinking a wine
that has been aged in pine
resin, thinking it to be some
unholy mashup of Chardonnay and menthol cough
drops, and truth be told, you
would not be far off.
By the year 300 CE, most
of the Roman Empire had
switched from clay amphorae to less permeable
wooden barrels for wine
storage, with the exception
of the Byzantine portion of
the empire, now modernday Turkey, which had
acquired a taste for the
resinated wines.
The traditions continue to
this day, with Retsina being
a legally protected designation, similar to Champagne
or Port. With improvements
in viticulture of the last few
millennia, the old clay vessels are no longer used, with
the flavouring now added
by introducing small chunks
of pine resin during the

December 27, 2018 // theanchor.ca

Lakeside
Libations
fermentation process, which
are then filtered out prior to
bottling.
My first introduction to
Retsina wine was in the
early days of the new millennium, as a wide-eyed
and naive tourist visiting the
Greek Isles, and grabbing
an unremarkable bottle of
wine at the local convenience store for the princely
sum of two Euros, or
around three Canuck bucks.
Young and inexperienced
in the ways of the world as
I was all those years ago, I
had never heard of Retsina,
and assumed it was just another Greek wine. Imagine
my surprise when I pried
off the crown closure with a
bottle opener and received
a strong menthol aroma.
The first sip was even more
shocking, with notes of
Pine-Sol cleaner on the
tongue, followed by a lasting finish that cleared my
sinuses and left my palate
with a metallic aftertaste.
Indeed, my first experience with Retsina was not
pleasant. A more seasoned
and worldly wine drinker
may have seen the two Euro
price tag as a warning sign
of low quality, but I was
unjaded and unsuspecting in
my younger years, so made
the incorrect assumption
that all Retsina was identical to the bargain-basement

rotgut likely only purchased
by gullible tourists like
myself.
In the fullness of time, as
my palate matured into its
current world-weary state,
I recently gathered up the
courage to try Retsina at a
Greek restaurant in Banff,
and finally realized that I
had unfairly maligned the
good name of Retsina so
many years ago.
Modern examples of Retsina are usually made from
the Assyrtiko or Savatiano
grapes, both popular white
varietals that are native to
Greece. Faithful readers
may recall me waxing poetically about the Assyrtiko
grape, especially for its
flexibility for pairing with
foods.
Modern Retsina wines
are much more subtle and
understated with their pine
aromas, and only slight
menthol hints in the finish.
As a born-again Retsina
drinker, I like to enjoy a
glass or two at a Greek
restaurant, especially when
paired with brined olives or
stuffed grape leaves. Ask
for a recommendation the
next time you are dining out
at a Greek restaurant, and
experience this millenniaold wine style for yourself!

Lakeside Lifestyles
PAWS for Thought
Steve King is the President of
The Community Therapy Dogs Society
email: info@ctds.ca

Home for the Messy
Holidays
Families are complex. If you’ve celebrated
Christmas this week with your extended family, or chose to avoid them this time of year,
then you likely had to navigate the complex
messiness of it all. There is history, pain,
nostalgia, fun, love, and more all wrapped
together when we connect with our families.
Each year I hear stories of broken families
who ache at the thought of coming together
around the Christmas tree. Others hold out
all hope that this year will be better, and that
a certain someone will make good choices.
Why is it all so complex?
There is a tricky pattern that emerge this
week and it plays out in many families over
Christmas. We may suddenly experience a
world of spoken and unspoken rules when
we get together with our families. Is your
aunt always in the kitchen? Is grandpa sitting
with a beer by fire? Is dad getting angry? Is
mom sad? These are often the result of rules
and roles and magically appear each time a
certain group gets together. Even if we don’t
like the rules and patterns we experience, we
still turn to them. How we open gifts, hang
stockings, how we tell jokes, what we talk
about, and when we plan meals all emerge
out of a set of rules to help keep the order. Or
so we believe.
Family dynamics are even more complex
than a list of unspoken rules and traditions.
Ronald Richardson says that anxiety plays a
major role in how we respond to each other.
He says that we naturally want to smooth out
differences in our families. We prefer to find
similarities and known patterns. So when
Christmas comes around, we are confronted
with a myriad of differences that spill over.
To respond to these differences, we work
to contain or control others. This anxious

Christmas and your dog

control elicits four responses, some of them
you’ll see in your family this Christmas
season.
First, some family members will comply
and try to do what they are told. Really, they
put on a brave face and cover up, but there
may not be peace on the inside. Secondly,
some might rebel. Doing the opposite is a
way of holding on to control. Thirdly, some
attack. Strange battles over small things
emerge as one family member tries to
one-up another. Fourthly, some cut-off. They
retreat to a corner, leave the room, or zone
out with a TV. Have you experienced any of
these this Christmas?
In the midst of complexity there is a way to
move forward. We begin by realizing that we
often respond out of our need to control or
our fear of anxiety. When we identify those
feelings, we can stop and take a moment to
see our situation more clearly. When we do
this we can begin to see others, and ourselves, with more grace. We don’t need to
make others comply, we don’t need to fight,
and we are free to be ourselves with all our
warts and quirky characteristics. Healthy
families care for each other from a place of
non-anxious unconditional high regard. In
other words, they learn to love well.
Christmas is a hard season, there is no denying it. But it is in the rub of family dynamics
that we get to test out the love that we celebrate with the birth of Jesus. When you aim
to cede your control over others, live in trust,
and love your family well, you are celebrating Christmas.
May your Christmas season be full of family
moments that lead down new pathways of
hope, peace, joy, and love. Merry Christmas.

“Christmas comes but once
a year and when it does it
brings good cheer”. Please
make sure that “brings good
cheer” applies to man’s best
friend as well.
Whether we want to own
up to it or not, Christmas
time can be one of excess.
And things occur that only
happen over the festive
period. The house, or at least
one room, is transformed by
adding a Christmas tree(s)
adorned with baubles, lights
and enough decoration to
sink a moderately sized
ship! Christmas cards are on
display and poinsettias are in
full bloom. Humbug I hear a
few of you say but that’s for
another time!
So let’s take some time to
view this array of magical
wonderland through our
furry friend’s eyes. Dogs
like a consistent, scheduled
lifestyle. All of a sudden,
mom and dad are out of the
house either doing the endless Christmas shopping or at
yet another Christmas party
and Fido is having to forego
his daily walk and missing
the company he’s used to
having. All of a sudden the
house seems full of people
that Fido doesn’t recognize.

December 27, 2018 // theanchor.ca

Some of them like dogs but
don’t know Fido’s quirks
and others don’t particularly
care for dogs. Result is that
Fido may decide “enough is
enough” and take himself off
to his crate (“safe space”) or
be locked in another room
away from everyone. Stress
all round for Fido.
Now I wonder that those
things hanging on the tree
taste like? They smell good
and they’re hanging at the
perfect height for my mouth
or maybe if I jumped up I
could reach the higher ones
too. Yes, you can see what’s
about to happen here. Mom
and dad return to the house
to find the Christmas tree on
its side and Fido vomiting, or
worse, on the carpet. If you
invested in a real fir tree, as
compared to a fake version,
there are other factors to
consider. The oils produced
by fir trees can be irritating to
a dog’s mouth and stomach,
causing excessive vomiting
or drooling. The tree needles,
meanwhile, may cause
gastrointestinal irritation,
obstruction, and puncture. If
the decorations hanging on
the tree are either chocolate
or made of glass/plastic, you
may find Fido in distress

either through an over indulgence of chocolate or hurting
from pieces of glass/plastic
in his mouth or worse in his
intestines.
Poinsettias have a bad rep
for being poisonous but, in
reality, are only mildly toxic
to dogs. Holly and mistletoe
are also popular holiday
plants. These plants, along
with their berries, have a
greater toxicity level than
the poinsettia. Symptoms of
illness form ingesting these
plants include intestinal
upset, such as vomiting and
diarrhea, excessive drooling,
and abdominal pain.
The chances are very high
that, over the Christmas season, more has been charged
to the credit card(s) than
normal. Do yourself and your
bank account a big favour
by minimizing the risk of
your dog getting hurt through
exposure to Christmas paraphernalia and remember to
continue to treat them as family, despite all the seasonal
distractions.
Having said all this, ho, ho,
ho and I truly wish you all a
merry and safe Christmas and
please give your dog an extra
belly rub from me!

13

Mitten Mania

Stay-at-home-mom turns hobby into unique business

Chris Rilling, founder of Chris’s Creations, has been sewing since she was in high school, but has only recently turned her hobby into a business she runs out of her
home. Rilling sells mittens which she makes from unique sweaters she thrifts or finds in her friends’ closets. Photo by Emily Rogers

By Emily Rogers
Chris Rilling, first began sewing in high
school, and eventually started making
children’s clothing, pajamas, and quilts.
“I’m into the crafty stuff, every year I have
made all my gifts for people, one year I
made stuffed geese,” Rilling said.
“I enjoy sewing, I always had the oldest
machines, my dad would get them from
garage sales,” Rilling said.
Her last sewing machine which was
from the 1950’s had the seal of good
housekeeping on it, Rilling said.
“That was the best machine. I went to a
sewing class to learn how to make a pillow,
everyone was laughing at my old machine,
my old clunker machine. By the end of the

14

class, mine was the only one still working,
mine was the quietest, and mine would start
right on the edge,” she added.
After working with her old sewing
machine for a few years, Rilling wanted to
upgrade to something fancier.
“This one is easier to thread, it has a few
fancier stitches on it, it cuts the thread for
you, I just wore the old one out,” she said.
Rilling has always enjoyed craft sewing
and two years ago was looking for a way to
reuse an old sweater with holes in it that she
had loved.
Her aunt suggested she make a pair of
mittens out of the old sweater instead of
tossing it away.
“I thought oh my gosh that’s a good idea.
I made one pair, and one pair turned into

three pairs, and it just kept going,” Rilling
said.
She added, “Then I had to go look for
new sweaters. It just kept going, and I got
hooked on it, it was fun, it was fun to sew,
and I liked the end project.”
The sweaters that Rilling uses for the
mittens are either thrifted, or from her
friends’ closets.
“I’m always looking for unique things,
I look at sweaters very differently now,”
Rilling said.
“It’s not just what the shape is, or what
they look like, I look at a sweater and I see
mitts,” she added.
Although Rilling is busy throughout the
day running a day home, she still finds time
to work on her mittens.
“The motivation comes from it’s a craft,
it’s an art. I think it’s really fun trying to
find the materials, matching the materials,
and matching the patterns, or different
colours,” Rilling said.
She added, “There really neat to pair
together, it’s more than just making
mittens.”
Rilling usually sews every day, but because
she has a day home she only has a few spare
minutes throughout the day.
“I’m busy with the kids all day. Nap time, I
love nap time, that’s my time where I can sit
down, and I can do a little bit of sewing.
“Weekends, and evenings, nap time, even
if I’m up early waiting for kids, I’ll start
sewing,” Rilling said.
She added, on the weekends her son calls it
“Mitten Mania” while she is busy sewing.
“I’m just having a great time,” Rilling said.
For more information on Chris’s
Creations, visit her Facebook page at https://
www.facebook.com/Chriss-Creations.

Chestermere resident, Chris Rilling, works every day on sewing mittens to prepare for craft sales. Rilling sews
whenever she has a free moment in between running a day care out of her home. Photo by Emily Rogers

December 27, 2018 // theanchor.ca

Honouring alumni who pave the way for upcoming
athletes
Rocky Mountain Raiders Alumni Game received overwhelming support
By Emily Rogers
Female athletes were recognized for
paving the road for future athletes during
the first annual Rocky Mountain Raiders
Alumni Game on Dec. 22 at the Scott
Seamans Arena in De Winton.
“I’m speechless for how it all went, we
expected to set the bar, but we didn’t expect
to set it that high,” said Rocky Mountain
Raiders Head Coach Dustin Borbandy.
A highlight of the game for Borbandy was
seeing the 34 skaters and two goal tenders
chat with each other and reminisce.
“That was exactly what we were trying to
accomplish,” Borbandy said.
“I don’t think [athletes] understood
what they were getting themselves into.
They just thought there would be a puck
drop, and they would go play and enjoy
themselves,” Borbandy said.
He added, “We wanted to make it a
moment they are going to cherish. We want
to keep this going, keep recognizing the
players from the past, the future and all
coming through.”
The Rocky Mountain Raiders Alumni
Game not only recognized the athletes, but
it also honoured the parents and supporters
of the organization.

“You see them every day, you take it for
granted that they’re on the team, when
the teammates move on, you move on as
parents and you forget how much they
brought to the association and to the
program.
For me as a parent and a coach, just to get
to recognize those people again was a huge
honour,” Borbandy said.
Although the game was successful,
Borbandy regrets that he didn’t advertise
the game more.
“The support was overwhelming,
watching the players faces when they
walked through the door, seeing new
jerseys designed for them having the
jerseys set up in the room, looking like a
team, they felt really honoured,” Borbandy
said.
Without the support from the parents
who gave a helping hand, and the players
the game wouldn’t have been possible,
Borbandy said.
He added, “We were looking to have a fun
game, but they made it competitive. That’s
what we wanted, they are athletes, they
wanted to compete, they play at high levels,
it was nice to have them back and we hope
to see more players come back next year.”
The first annual Rocky Mountain Raiders Alumni Game had a successful beginning, with 34 skaters and 2
goal tenders playing hockey on the same team once again on Dec. 22, at the Scott Seaman Arena. The ultimate goal for the first alumni game was to recognize female athletes who play sport at a high level.
Photo by Emily Rogers

The first annual Rocky Mountain Raiders Alumni Game honoured the female athletes who have paved the
way for upcoming athletes in high level hockey on Dec. 22 at the Scott Seamans Arena. The alumni game
brought together athletes for a chance to reminisce, while reinforcing the lifelong friendships they have
already made.
Photo by Emily Rogers

The first annual Rocky Mountain Raiders Alumni Game brought out the competitive nature of the athletes on
Dec. 22, at the Scott Seamans Arena. Head Coach and parent, Dustin Borbandy said the athletes expected to
play a casual game, however, the game quickly brought out the competitiveness of the athletes.
Photo by Emily Rogers

Our Community
What’s Happening Where
Public Library
Events
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May your holidays be filled with happiness
and peace.
Holiday Hours
CLOSED FROM DECEMBER 31-JANUARY 1 FOR NEW YEARS EVE AND NEW
YEARS DAY
Pre-School Storytime Fridays at 10:15-10:45am
Drop by the Library every Friday morning at 10:15am for stories, songs and fun. No
registration is required.
Festive Sweater Day Friday December 28th
The Library is dedicating Friday to wearing your favourite festive Christmas sweater for
the entire day.
Novel Book Club Thursday, January 3rd, 201 7:00-8:00pm
The Novel Book Club meets the first Thursday of each month to discuss a monthly book
selection. At our December meeting we will be discussing First Grave on the Right, by
Darynda Jones. There is also a bonus book, Only Ever Yours by Louise O’Neil. Everyone is welcome to join the discussion; no registration is required. Book suggestions for
the club are always encouraged!
For more information about what’s happening at the Library, check our website and sign
up for our newsletter online or pick up a newsletter next time you’re in. Don’t forget to
follow and like us on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
This Week
Friday, December 28

Langdon Dads Support Group
South East Rockyview Outreach Services
Times and venues will be determined depending upon interest in the community.
Outreach services is planning to launch Langdon Dads, a new program that serves fathers
who are seeking peer support and parenting resources in an informal, “learning from each
other” social atmosphere.
Langdon Dads is open to all South East Rocky View residents. Times and venue will be
determined depending upon interest in the community.
To get involved please contact Brian Dinter at: 403.207.7050 ext:7131
or email: bdinter@chestermere.ca

Business
Dexterity Dance
Makenna Sendecki was hooked on dance from
the moment she first tried it as a child.
“Every year while growing up, I wanted to take
more dance classes,” said the Dexterity Dance
Studio owner.
“Once I began teaching, I wanted to teach more
classes and different genres,” said Sendecki.
Eventually, she realized that the best way to feed
her passion was to follow her dream and open her
own studio.
“Having my life revolve around the studio, the kids
and sharing my love and passion for dance makes
me happy,” she said.
After completing her business degree at Mount
Royal University in Calgary, Sendecki knew she
wanted to open her studio in Chestermere.
“I feel like Chestermere is where I belong,” she
said.
“I’ve always had my heart set on being here,
where I grew up, with the community that I know
and love,” said Sendecki.
Despite being a rapidly growing city, Makenna

likes that Chestermere still
has that small-town feel.
“I like going to Safeway
and knowing that I’ll see
somebody I know,” said
Sendecki.
Fostering that sense of
community within the studio
and outside of the studio is
important to her.
Whether she’s decorating
for Christmas, participating
in community events or
dancing in senior centers,
Sendecki maintains her community centric values.
She opened the studio in September and like
most new business owners, the majority of her time
is spent making sure that Dexterity Dance Studio is
a success.
“This is my vision and I work day in and day out to
try and bring the vision to life,” said Sendecki.
Despite the hours she puts in, Sendecki said it

often doesn’t feel like work.
“Lucky for me it’s my passion, I’m not married, I
don’t have children, so this is it,” she said.
When she does get some free time, she likes to
play guitar, spend time with her friends and most
importantly hang out with her eight-year-old Shiba
Inu, Kola.

FIND US

Unit 25, 140 East Chestermere Drive, Chestermere, AB T1X 1B2

403.816.6189

www.dexteritydancestudio.ca

Martin Shields MP Bow River

Find local(ish)

Federal News
Dear Editor,
This Christmas, families across Canada exchanged gifts. Everything from
sweaters to cameras, fishing lures to skis, shoes to basketballs, sunglasses to
cell phones. All these gifts have one thing in common: they are made with
petroleum products. They are transported to market with gasoline, diesel and
jet fuel. The only part of their journey not fueled by hydrocarbons is on the
back of Santa’s sleigh – and I’ve heard some theories about Rudolph’s nose.
The miracle of hydrocarbons has made the wishes of countless Canadian
children come true. It has also kept them warm at night while they wait for
the magic of Christmas morning. Oil, gas, and fossil fuels make Christmas
happen. You might say that the luckiest child of all is the one who receives a
lump of coal in his stocking.

Updated weekly. Do you have an event to include?
Contact us through your website of choice!

December 27, 2018 // theanchor.ca

As cyber wars erupt, Canada
must protect itself

If Canada is serious about standing as a sovereign entity, it would make sense to support our tech companies
to ensure our security
By Eamonn Brosnan
Research Associate
Frontier Centre for Public
Policy

The United States is
pressuring Canada to
block telecommunications
companies from using
equipment provided by
Chinese company Huawei
when building our 5G cellular
network for smartphones.
The U.S. logic is along the
lines of “We don’t have actual
evidence that China is using
Huawei’s products to spy on
us, but we suspect that they
have in the past and will in
the future.” In court, that
wouldn’t be sufficient to be
allowed as evidence, much
less get a conviction.
But this isn’t a criminal
court. This is about national
security and corporate spying.
And a cyber war is being
waged that’s similar to the
Cold War.
The treasures we’re fighting
over?
Rare commodities in a world
that’s rapidly being depleted
of natural resources, wealth,
and political favours and
control.
Russia has been suspected
of Internet-based attacks in
a variety of nations and has
become increasingly bold
using this strategy.
After taking the Ukrainian
power grid down in
December 2015, Russian
hackers, from the statesponsored group known as
Dragonfly, seized control of
critical computers in the U.S.
power grid in the spring of
2016.
Groups working for Chinese
intelligence have apparently
hacked everything from
natural resource companies
to the Pentagon. It’s believed
they’ve directed their
activities toward either
hacking companies that
control access to critical

natural resources or hightechnology equipment,
civilian or military.
The Chinese government
maintains firm control over
their companies, governmentowned or private, and these
companies are required to
co-operate with any national
intelligence activities.
Huawei and several other
Chinese-based suppliers
have been caught embedding
backdoor access in various
digital equipment. It’s not
known whether these security
lapses were intentional or
leftover access for testing
that was forgotten and not
removed before releasing
them to production.
Either it was intentional or it
was sloppy. It was definitely
not secure.
In truth, the U.S. has been
doing all of these things, too.
Many U.S.-based hardware
and software suppliers have
National Security Agencydirected backdoors installed.
This had been heavily
documented by Edward
Snowden.
This NSA program,
PRISM, has alleged been
used to intercept all manner
of communications. There
are serious concerns about
how much this is used
domestically, without
warrants and without judicial
oversight.
In 2010, a malicious worm
(it sends copies of itself out
to infect other machines
networked with the infected
machine) called the Stuxnet
attacked and destroyed
a number of centrifuge
machines being used by
the Iranians in their nuclear
weapons program. The
worm was carefully crafted
to target these machines and
the suspicion is that it was
produced by a joint operation
of American and Israeli
intelligence. It set the Iranian
nuclear weapons program
back due to the loss of the

centrifuges.
This isn’t about ethics or
moral outrage. Depending
upon where you live, you
might agree with some of
these cybernetic attacks
and feel outraged at others.
However, we don’t need to
determine who’s right or
wrong - this is simply about
being pragmatic.
China, though a trade
partner, is also a competitor
that seeks every advantage
when dealing with us. The
Chinese have engaged in
corporate espionage, stealing
technology where they can.
It doesn’t need to be proven
beyond a reasonable doubt
that Huawei will install
backdoors for Chinese
intelligence. This isn’t a
criminal court trial. This
is national security and
suspicion is all that’s needed
in the murky world of spies.
If Canada is serious about
standing as a sovereign
entity, it would make sense to
support our tech companies.
Blackberry, a Canadianbased smartphone maker,
has traditionally had the best
security of any phone maker.
Nortel was a major player in
network infrastructure before
its financial collapse in the
early 2000s. Maybe Canada
should take a page out of the
playbook of so many other
nations and start supporting
and encouraging our
companies. Companies like
these are our only real way
to ensure our security and
independence from the prying
eyes of foreign intelligence
operations.
It’s high time we started
putting the interests and
security of Canadian citizens,
businesses and government
first, and stop worrying about
offending a foreign power’s
sensibilities.

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) You might
be busier than you had expected right now.
But between the socializing rounds and the
workplace tasks, there are opportunities for
special moments with that certain someone.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Your creative approach leads to a quicker-than-expected solution to a workplace problem. Now
you can devote more time to that proposal
you hope to introduce by midmonth.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Technological glitches create problems early on. But by
midweek, all runs smoothly once again, and
you’re well and truly on your way to meeting all your deadlines.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Your energy
levels are high, and you feel you can handle
everything that comes along. But try to take
a break from your hectic pace for some quiet
time with someone close to you.
LEO (July 23 to August 22) Before you
pounce on that shiny new opportunity, take
more time to check it out to see how much
substance actually lies beneath all that glitter. A family member has important news.
VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A
personal situation you thought was resolved
resurfaces, thanks to a possibly well-intentioned move that went awry. Deal with it as
soon as possible. Accept the help of a trusted
friend.
LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) That
goal you set way back when is finally in

sight. Maintain your focus on achieving it,
and don’t allow yourself to be distracted by
unimportant demands for your attention.
SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21)
A temperamental flare-up creates negative
feelings that need to be dealt with immediately. But things once again go well after
the apologies are made and hurt feelings are
soothed.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) An early impulsive act causes
confusion. But all is smoothed over once
explanations are made. Expect a friend or
family member to ask for your kind and
always wise advice.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to January
19) You might have to do some juggling of
your priorities, as a personal matter appears
to require more time and attention. Put your
pride aside and accept help from those who
offer it.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18)
Your creative aspect is strong. Not only does
it help you accomplish your goals, but it also
inspires others. This could lead to a potentially rewarding collaboration opportunity.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Be
careful about making major decisions when
you’re not really committed to them. And
resist any pressure to do otherwise. Better to
delay action until all doubts are resolved.

BORN THIS WEEK: You set goals and are
rarely distracted by any attempt to move you
off the path you’ve chosen to reach them

1. BALLET: What is the name of the young girl
who stars in “The Nutcracker”?
2. TELEVISION: Which actor played the dad
in the sitcom “Eight Is Enough”?
3. GOVERNMENT: According to the Constitution, what is the minimum age of a member of
the U.S. Senate?
4. MUSIC: What is the nickname of country
music singer Hank Williams Jr.?
5. FOOD & DRINK: Where did gumbo originate in the United States?
6. MOVIES: Which 1990s film had the tagline,
“A little pig goes a long way”?
7. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president is honored in the Wrestling Hall of Fame?
8. LITERATURE: What was the nickname of
the deadly flu that wiped out most human beings
in Stephen King’s “The Stand”?
9. U.S. STATES: Where is Fort Knox located?
10. MEASUREMENTS: What does the Brannock Device measure?
Trivia Test Answerst
1. Clara; 2. Dick Van Patten; 3. 30; 4. Bocephus; 5. Louisiana; 6. “Babe”;
7. Abraham Lincoln; 8. Captain Trips; 9. Kentucky; 10. Shoe size

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Melodie L Kindret, CFP®
Financial Advisor
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